Massachusetts Background Checks

Massachusetts Criminal Records

Only approved agencies and businesses are allowed access to Massachusetts criminal records, which are maintained by CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information), a subset of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). Massachusetts criminal records are not accessed through fingerprints, but only by identity qualifiers like name, date of birth and social security number.

Massachusetts criminal records are only available via mail at this time to certified agencies. The most common reason for requesting Massachusetts criminal records on an individual is during the hiring process. CORI requires that certified agencies who require a background check before hiring confirm that the request is being made as a final step towards hiring the individual in question.

Certified agencies cannot simply conduct background checks on any applicant, but should only do so if seriously considering employing that individual and must obtain the individual’s signed consent. CORI also requires that the agency or business keeps the Massachusetts criminal record on file for three years and in a separate filing location other than a personnel file to protect the individual’s privacy.

New regulations now require that all certified agencies obtain a copy of a government-issued photo identification (such as a passport) prior to submitting Massachusetts criminal records requests. This helps CORI verify any criminal history records that are questionable or if CORI is having difficulty determining whether a criminal record in question belongs to an individual. The cost for obtaining Massachusetts criminal records for non-government certified agencies is $15. Personal requests and third party authorization requests will cost $25, while a request made by an attorney via court order costs $30.

To request criminal records by mail do the following:

Step 1: Fill out the Massachusetts Criminal Record Request Form. Click Here
Step 2: Provide payment. Processing fees for criminal record checks are $35 per request.
Step 3: Mail the completed application and payment to the address indicated on the form.

For additional information on obtaining Massachusetts criminal records, please contact the office at the address or phone number below:

Criminal Offender Record Information Services
200 Arlington St., 2nd Floor Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 660-4640

Resource Links
Massachusetts Criminal Records Requests

Massachusetts Court Records

Many Massachusetts court records are available to the public upon request through the SJC (Supreme Judicial Court). You may access alphabetical indexes of parties involved in both pending and closed civil and criminal cases, as well as docket books.

You may also gain access to case files, daily trial lists, statements issued by judges on particular cases, written police reports, such as probable cause or complaints, certain aspects of juvenile court proceedings, and even search warrant applications, including supporting material submitted to obtain the warrant. The SJC developed the Judiciary/Media Steering Committee in order to clarify what Massachusetts court records are available for viewing and copying.

For additional information on obtaining Massachusetts court records, please contact the office below:

SJC Public Information Office
Maryland Judicial Center
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
(617) 557-1114

Resource Links
Massachusetts Guideline on Access to Judicial Records

Massachusetts Jail Records

If you need to locate a Massachusetts inmate, you will need to provide the inmate’s full name and commitment number. If you do not know the commitment number, usually the Department of Corrections can help you obtain it. You may also go online to www.vinelink.com, but this site is not maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, and therefore, all Massachusetts jail records obtained through them or any problems with the site should not be reported to the Department of Corrections.

To search for jail records do the following:

Step 1: Visit the Massachusetts Inmate Search webpage. Click Here.
Step 2: Call the phone number provided on the Massachusetts “Locate an Offender” webpage and provide the offender’s full name and/or commitment number.
Step 3: To locate records online click the vinelink.com URL on the Inmate search webpage.

For additional information on locating Massachusetts jail records, please contact the office using the phone number or address below:

Massachusetts Department of Corrections
50 Maple St., Suite 3
Milford, MA 01757
(877) 421-8463

Resource Links
Massachusetts Offender Locator

Massachusetts Driving Records

If you need a copy of your Massachusetts driving record, you may obtain it in person at your local RMV office or via mail, telephone or internet. Unless you go in person to your local RMV office, your Massachusetts driving record request will take about 10 business days to process. The fee for this service is $20.

If you choose to obtain your driving record by mail, you will need to write your request and include your name, date of birth, license number, address and a check made out to Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you wish to request your Massachusetts driving records via telephone, you’ll need to dial the appropriate phone number that corresponds to your area code.

For additional information on obtaining Massachusetts driving records, please contact the office at the address or phone numbers below:

Registry of Motor Vehicles
Court Records
PO Box 55896
Boston, MA 02205
(617) 351-4500 (for Massachusetts area codes 339, 617, 781 or 857, or out-of-state phone numbers)
(800) 858-3926 (for Massachusetts area codes 351, 413, 508, 774 or 978-will not work for out-of-state phone numbers)

Resource Links
Massachusetts Driving Record Information

Additional Resources

Massachusetts Sexual Offender Registry
Massachusetts Attorney General